Tarantula Anatomy in 3D: Inside a Spider, Fangs and Organs
The tarantula is a big hairy spider, and spiders are not insects at all. They are arachnids, with eight legs and two body parts. In the 3D Bug Anatomy simulator you can turn a tarantula around, look inside and see its exoskeleton.
Explore in 3DThree ways to see the tarantula
Whole bug
ExoskeletonTarantula quick facts
| Animal group | Arachnid, spider |
|---|---|
| Legs | 8 |
| Body parts | 2 |
| Breathing | Book lungs |
| Lifespan | Females can live for decades |
The tarantula exoskeleton
A tarantula's exoskeleton has two main parts, a front body that carries the eight legs, the eyes and the fangs, and a round abdomen behind it. To grow, it has to shed this hard outer skin and wait for a new one to harden.
Inside the tarantula
In the Inside view you can tap these labels on the 3D model:
- Fangs
- Hollow fangs inject venom to stop prey. A tarantula bite hurts, but it is rarely dangerous to people.
- Brain
- Sits in the front part of the body and controls all eight legs, the fangs and the silk.
- Heart
- A tube-shaped heart along the top of the abdomen pumps pale blue blood around the body.
- Silk glands
- Glands at the back make liquid silk, which turns into strong thread as it comes out of the spinnerets.
Interesting facts about the tarantula
- Spiders are not insects. They have eight legs and two body parts instead of six legs and three.
- A tarantula breathes with book lungs, stacked like the pages of a book.
- Many tarantulas can flick tiny itchy hairs from their abdomen at attackers.
- Female tarantulas can live for decades, much longer than males.
- To grow, a tarantula sheds its whole exoskeleton, even the lining of its mouth.
Compare: Spider vs Scorpion: Two Arachnids Compared in 3D · Insect vs Spider: 6 Legs vs 8, Compared in 3D
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Tarantula anatomy questions
Is a tarantula an insect?
No. It is an arachnid, with eight legs and two body parts, while insects have six legs and three body parts.
Is a tarantula bite dangerous?
A tarantula bite can hurt, but for most people it is no worse than a bee sting.
How do tarantulas breathe?
With book lungs, thin folded layers stacked like the pages of a book.
How long do tarantulas live?
Females of some species can live for 20 years or more. Males live much shorter lives.
The 3D Bug Anatomy simulator is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up.